"I'm here in the studio with the boys of Firestyle, who just released their latest album, Uncommon Ground. I think I can safely say it has already taken the world by storm. This is what, number four?" The interviewer smiled at them, and the cameras panned to show the whole band.
"Yep," Naruto said.
"Wow. I remember when you all were brand new. Looks like nothing's slowed down since then!"
"You could say that," Shikamaru drawled.
"This new album's pretty different from your last one. What made you guys make the jump to a different sound?"
"Music's always changing," Shikamaru said. "We didn't want to get stuck in a rut."
"We've changed, too," Kiba said. "The new stuff reflects that."
"We hope," Shikamaru said.
The interviewer laughed. "How divisive is your recording process? Do you guys tend to disagree if someone proposes something new?"
"We're all pretty open, so no," Shikamaru said. "If someone's suggestion doesn't work for the rest of the band, usually it's for a good reason."
"We all bring different ideas to the table," Naruto said.
"Sasuke and Shikamaru are the toughest," Kiba said. "They're perfectionists."
"Interesting," the interviewer said, grinning.
"We're not perfectionists. That's impossible in music," Shikamaru said lazily. "But we like to be satisfied with whatever we put out. Sometimes that involves higher standards."
"Yeah. When we met, Sasuke told me I was too enthusiastic and way offbeat when I played," Naruto said. "I almost didn't make it in."
"Don't be ridiculous," Sasuke muttered.
"Well, clearly that expectation level has been good for you in the long run," the interviewer. "You're still considered one of the best rock bands out there, not to mention the youngest."
"We're all wondering when we'll stop being called the youngest," Kiba joked. "There are a lot of good groups coming up."
"So you won't be disappointed to lose your title?"
Shikamaru scoffed. "Nah."
"Well, I have to commend you on handling that label for as long as you have. No scandals, no outbursts, no black marks…How do you manage not to let fame get to you?"
"It's about putting things in perspective," Kiba said, and Sasuke barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes.
"We've got lives outside of the band," Naruto said. "We hang out with regular people, ya know. That keeps you normal."
"The fans are great," Shikamaru said. "Meeting people who like your music keeps everything real."
"Deep down we're just four guys from Oto!" Naruto said. "That's not gonna change."
The interviewer smiled. "Do you find that your experiences affect your music? I assume that your lives are very different now than they were even two years ago, when you released your second album."
"Yeah, life definitely affects the music we write. If we didn't have the kind of exposure we do now, we'd probably still be recording crappy punk demos in my garage," Kiba said. "We've had a lot of opportunities and encouragement to expand our sound."
The interviewer, however, kept reaching. "Sasuke, you and Sakura Haruno made quite a stir a few weeks back. How did that relationship affect your songwriting for this album?"
"It didn't," Sasuke said shortly.
"We try to keep our personal lives separate from our professional lives," Shikamaru said.
"Well, that's one thing, but dating Sakura Haruno is another," the interviewer said.
"Not really," Sasuke said, trying to remain neutral.
"He knows how to handle it," Naruto said, clapping Sasuke on the back obnoxiously but saving the interview. Sasuke could almost hear Kakashi exhaling with relief from the other room.
While Sasuke was at the interview, Sakura had a meeting with her team at the record label. They would be deciding the final track list for the album, and she was excited and slightly nervous.
"I really want to record 'Wake Up and Smell the Poison' by Firestyle," Sakura said once they were all sitting around the large conference table. The idea had been in her mind for months, and she'd figured this was the best time to bring it up. "It's from their first album, so it should be available by now, right?"
Orochimaru barely hesitated. "I'm afraid that's not in the cards. There are legal issues, since Firestyle is signed to Hidden Sound Records. Unfortunately personal connections," he smirked at Sakura, "won't help in this case." A few of the other people tittered, and Sakura frowned.
"I realize that," she said, "but other artists cover each other all the time."
"This is a complicated contract issue," Orochimaru said.
"It would also go against your image," one of the producers said.
Orochimaru nodded in agreement, and Sakura felt completely trapped.
"I don't have to stick to one image, though, do I?" She asked, eyes narrowed.
"Well, in a way…Yes, you do," Orochimaru said. "Imagine what people would think if you started singing only dark ballads?"
"But this is one song," Sakura said.
"I'm going to have to put my foot down on this, Sakura," Orochimaru said. "I'm sorry." He didn't look particularly apologetic.
"So on to our next topic," one of the producers said. "We have a few songs from the archive that we want to try. They'd be great singles, very upbeat."
"You mean songs that have already been written?" Sakura asked.
"Well, yes. We just have to make sure you have a few songs that appeal universally. This is your first truly full-length album, after all. Your first EP made a splash, and we want to keep that going."
"So you're saying that's only possible if I sing someone else's song?" Sakura didn't want to get defensive, but she couldn't help it.
"Not someone else's song," Orochimaru said, like he was talking to a child. "Just a recent song from the archive that no one else has taken. Songwriters have been working to suit your specific needs."
"I'm sorry, but I've always written my own songs," Sakura said. "It wouldn't feel right singing something that's not by me and then passing it off as my own."
"Now, that's a bit of an exaggeration," one of the record label people said. "This is done all the time."
"As unpleasant as this will be to bring up," Orochimaru said, "I should remind you of your contract, Sakura. The label withholds the right to make executive decisions regarding the content of your albums." He smiled at her and tucked a strand of greasy hair behind his ear.
Sakura couldn't say anything. She was backed into a corner, and no one at this table sided with her. Not for the first time, she felt completely powerless. Her life was in the hands of people whose first interest was making as much money as possible.
It was fine, she told herself. Only two of the nine songs on the album weren't written by her. She could've been given a deal that was much worse.
She would have to rise above it, Sakura resolved, and she pushed away her doubt. She would sing the songs better than anyone could, and not question the choices that had been made for her. This was fame, and there was no way to do it your own way. She'd known that when she'd signed her music contract, no matter how naïve she'd been about certain aspects of the industry.
"Five more reps," the trainer said, and Sakura exhaled tiredly. "You're almost at your goal, which is great!" It was an hour after the meeting, and she'd been driven to the gym for an intense workout.
Sakura almost asked what her goal was, because she had no idea, but instead she just picked up the weights again.
This was the most fit she'd ever been in her life; Sakura had always been in shape, but all the working out had given her a body she hadn't anticipated. Still, it never seemed to be enough for the people around her. She had thought they would decrease the demand of her weekly workout regimens, but so far that hadn't happened. If anything, they had increased the amount of time she was spending in the gym. Probably in advance of summer touring, Sakura thought, more ruefully than she expected. She supposed it was the same for everyone else in her position. Karui was probably in the gym seven days a week in preparation for her dance routines. Suddenly Sakura was grateful that any dancing she had to do was minimal. Still, she smiled when she thought about teasing Ino that she might be able to beat the blonde's pushup record.
Sakura decided then that she wouldn't tell Sasuke about the record label meeting. She knew he would get angry on her behalf, and while she appreciated that, she didn't want to stir anything up. Her album was the most important thing right now, and she wanted it out in the world without any complications, even if that meant she had to compromise.
"I hear you're living somewhere new," Shizune said later that evening during a fitting. Sakura was trying on a variety of outfits for radio appearances.
"I'm keeping my options open," Sakura said, and then realized she hated how that sounded. "I mean, we're leasing an apartment, and seeing how it goes."
"I think that's smart," Shizune said with a slight smile. "Wow, that looks great. They said the length was good, but I think I'll bring the hem down an inch."
Sakura looked at herself in the mirror. A year ago she wouldn't have recognized herself in the tight, sparkly dress. Now, necklines and skin were just part of the job.
Sasuke returned to the apartment after they finished the interview, but then he got a text from Sakura saying that she would be staying at her own apartment that night. Sasuke decided to join back up with the rest of the band. The other place felt empty without Sakura there; for obvious reasons, it still didn't feel particularly lived-in.
"Hey, look who's realized he still lives here," Kiba said when Sasuke walked in. He and Naruto were lounging on the couches in the living room. "Sakura ditch you?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "She's busy with album stuff." He knew she'd had an official meeting today, but they hadn't talked other than a brief text exchange earlier when she'd asked how the interview had gone.
"That's gotta be crazy," Naruto said. "Remember our second album?"
"Hn." Sasuke didn't want to remember, because those months had been crazy. He couldn't remember getting any sleep because of their schedules, and every other article had questioned whether they could live up to their debut.
They had, obviously, but public opinion (and skepticism) had a greater effect on Sasuke than he wanted to admit.
He wasn't even nineteen when they released their second album, barely a year after their first. But he'd already learned how to numb himself to the chaos. By the time they were touring, he was good at blocking all of it out, not letting anything hit him or dig deep.
"How is she?" Naruto asked Sasuke. "We haven't seen her in like three weeks."
Truthfully, Sasuke wasn't sure, and not being able to answer confidently made him slightly guilty. She seemed happy enough, but he could see the telltale signs of stress underneath her exterior and positive outlook. He didn't think fame would really get to her, she was too grounded to get carried away in it, but he wondered if the work would get to her eventually. She had as little free time as him, and her album wasn't even coming out for a month. It was evident that her team was working her to the bone.
When Sasuke next saw Sakura, they were meeting at the apartment two days later. She came in wearing a nicer outfit, her hair curled and her guitar case slung over her back.
"Where were you? Interview?" Sasuke asked her.
Sakura shook her head. "Studio. I had a few things to rerecord."
Sasuke didn't comment on her appearance, knowing it would bother her. "Hn."
He wasn't quite sure how it happened or what she'd been told, but there was a shift after that. Sakura stopped leaving the apartment with wet hair or wearing hoodies. Now there were no early morning showers without blow dryers and a full face of makeup. She was smiling more and on the phone more often, calls to promote the album in advance.
Sasuke didn't say anything, but he couldn't help wondering if he should, before it was too late. He knew all too well what fame was capable of.
A/N: Sorry, it's been too long. Reviews would be great, though, I need some motivation.